Ball joint

Abstract

A ball joint, particularly an axial joint, having a housing, a bearing shell which is arranged in the housing, and a ball pin with a ball head which is arranged in the bearing shell, is characterized in that the bearing shell is bent open elastically by the ball head so that the restoring force resulting from its deformation applies a prestress onto the ball head which attempts to press the latter out of the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT / EP2007 / 001282 filed Feb. 14, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety, and which claimed priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2006 008 250.8 filed Feb. 22, 2006, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a ball joint, particularly an axial joint, having a housing, a bearing shell which is arranged in the housing, and a ball pin with a ball head which is arranged in the bearing shell.[0003]Generally in ball joints and particularly in axial ball joints, the problem arises that with increasing wear of the bearing shell, a play of the ball head in the housing can occur. This play is basically undesirable.[0004]An axial ball joint according to the prior art is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. In FIG. 1, the axial ball joint is shown in an instal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a ball joint that can be produced at a low cost and still prevent play inside the housing. This is achieved by bending the bearing shell open elastically by the ball head, which applies a prestress onto the ball head to push it out of the housing. The bearing shell is designed with a shape that doesn't perfectly fit the ball head and housing, allowing for elastic deformation during installation. The restoring forces ensure the bearing shell lies against the ball head without play even if the wall thickness of the bearing shell is reduced by wear."

Problems solved by technology

Generally in ball joints and particularly in axial ball joints, the problem arises that with increasing wear of the bearing shell, a play of the ball head in the housing can occur.

This play is basically undesirable.

It is clearly undesirable if a worn ball joint has play.

On the one hand, the play leads to noises when the ball head is moved from one side of the bearing shell to the other when the load direction is reversed.

On the other hand, the play leads to increased stresses of the ball joint and of the components coupled therewith when the load direction is reversed.

However, a disadvantage in the known ball joint is that an additional component is present in the form of the rubber ring, which must be produced, kept in readiness and installed.

This leads to increased costs.

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